The upcoming match presents a clear contrast in form. Manchester City, with a strong record of 8 wins and 2 losses, leads the title race, while Sunderland's 3 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses suggest less consistency. Tactically, both teams favour possession-based football and attacking through the flanks. However, Manchester City's ability to create chances with through balls could exploit a weakness in Sunderland's defence, and they also hold an advantage in set-piece situations. In terms of team news, Sunderland is heavily affected by injuries in their defensive line with four defenders, including Ballard, unavailable. Manchester City will be without Doku and Bobb on the wings. The pressure is on the away side, with Manchester City needing all three points to stay at the top of the table. Although the home team has no relegation concerns, their history against Manchester City – with nine losses in ten encounters – adds a psychological burden. Manchester City's superior squad depth and their title aspirations provide a dual motivation, while Sunderland will need to rely on home advantage to try and overturn their disadvantage. Historically, the encounters between the two teams favour Manchester City. In their last ten official meetings, Manchester City has remained undefeated with 9 wins and 1 draw, achieving a 90% win rate. In the first match of this season, Manchester City won 3-0 at home against Sunderland. Notably, Manchester City has won eight consecutive Premier League matches against Sunderland, with their last dropped points dating back to 2014. Sunderland's home record against Manchester City is also poor, with 1 draw and 4 losses in their last five home encounters, indicating a significant psychological disadvantage.